Critics Pick Apart Trump's Immigration Policy

Donald Trump, seen leaving jury duty Aug. 17, is putting forth an immigration plan that some critics say could make the problem of illegal immigration even worse. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

(Newser)
–
Donald Trump's immigration policy is taking heat this week from critics who claim aspects of it might be illegal or could lead to "staggering economic and social havoc." The Washington Post editorial board calls out the GOP presidential frontrunner's plan to deport all illegal immigrants, a scheme it says would cripple the US economy and create a refugee crisis to rival that in Syria. The Post uses California, which accounts for 13% of the United States' GDP and has 2.6 million undocumented workers, as an example of what mass deportation would do. Up to 50% of the state's farm and orchard workers are undocumented, as are another 14% in construction. There are thousands more undocumented workers in California than unemployed people, which means mass deportation would cause a labor shortage even if Americans wanted to fill those jobs.

On the other hand, Politico finds fault with Trump's plan to "impound" remittances sent home by immigrants in order to force Mexico to get on board with building a border wall. On his campaign website, Trump claims this would net $22 billion, citing a Fox News story. But Politico reports the majority of that $22 billion likely comes from legal immigrants. Furthermore, experts aren't exactly sure how Trump would "impound" that money, which would require new laws that would likely face "equal protections" challenges: Why just Mexican nationals and not those from Europe? Besides, undocumented immigrants could send remittances by snail mail to avoid the new laws. Plus, the Post thinks "impounding" remittances would hurt the Mexican economy and actually make the problem of illegal immigration worse. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)

Only problem with Trump's politics is he doesn't think through the consequences so if he's elected America will be at war with every nation in very short order. Never really liked those Canadian immigrants taking our newscaster jobs let's send them packing.

DarthWD56

Aug 19, 2015 4:59 PM CDT

Man given how much the republican politicians hate him, I wonder how he plans in getting them to cooperate once he's President. They didn't like Obama and look at what happened.

ChuckInVista

Aug 19, 2015 4:20 PM CDT

First, you will not find American citizens to do a lot of the jobs folks from central America are doing now - especially the ag stuff. My dad tried hiring Americans to do ag work back in the 80's - didn't work then, won't work now. We're too soft and entitled. Second, I know people like to say it's not about racism. Sorry, but if the folks coming over the Rio Grande were tall and blond - Swedes let's say - we'd be looking for money for building bridges across the river instead of walls.